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Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy
NY Times ^ | June 4, 2008 | LAURA BEIL

Posted on 06/04/2008 7:00:22 AM PDT by King of Florida

DALLAS — Opponents of teaching evolution, in a natural selection of sorts, have gradually shed those strategies that have not survived the courts. Over the last decade, creationism has given rise to “creation science,” which became “intelligent design,” which in 2005 was banned from the public school curriculum in Pennsylvania by a federal judge.

Now a battle looms in Texas over science textbooks that teach evolution, and the wrestle for control seizes on three words. None of them are “creationism” or “intelligent design” or even “creator.”

The words are “strengths and weaknesses.”

Starting this summer, the state education board will determine the curriculum for the next decade and decide whether the “strengths and weaknesses” of evolution should be taught. The benign-sounding phrase, some argue, is a reasonable effort at balance. But critics say it is a new strategy taking shape across the nation to undermine the teaching of evolution, a way for students to hear religious objections under the heading of scientific discourse.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: evolution; scienceasreligion; scienceeducation; textbooks
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To: discipler

Scientifically speaking, life on earth was seeded by aliens. We are their reserve food source in the future. Quite scary, but true. ....................So, you have the only remaining copy of the book “To Serve Man” that was left behind by the aliens???


21 posted on 06/04/2008 7:49:06 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft (Where have all our Great Leaders gone? Certainly there must be one out there?)
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To: cripplecreek
...Creationism is a matter of faith and evolution is scientific theory.

Creationism is a matter of faith and evolution is scientific theory a matter of MUCH MORE faith.

Fixed it!

22 posted on 06/04/2008 7:52:43 AM PDT by WVKayaker ( "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome..." I. Asimov)
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To: King of Florida
From the article: "Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth’s appearance is a recent geologic event — thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion. 'I believe a lot of incredible things,” he said, “The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe.'"

McLeroy is the chairman of the state education board. This is the kind of thing he would like taught in the public schools over which he has authority.
23 posted on 06/04/2008 7:56:28 AM PDT by drjimmy
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To: King of Florida
Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth’s appearance is a recent geologic event — thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion.

He doesn't want to teach weaknesses, he want's to promote stupidity.

24 posted on 06/04/2008 7:58:15 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Soliton
And on marches the Lying for Jesus movement.

Offer scientific evidence of an alternative and we will pay attention

You certified your bonifides with those brilliant statements. They will certainly resolve everything (/sarcasm). You're still come across as a sad, pathetic excuse for human!

You offer nothing to this conversation. You just make caustic, boorish complaints about, and to, people of faith. When you can offer proof of the origins of the universe, we can converse. I have my own theory, and it is founded quite soundly on reason. But, it involves GOD!

Crawl back under your scientific rock!!

25 posted on 06/04/2008 8:02:45 AM PDT by WVKayaker ( "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome..." I. Asimov)
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To: King of Florida

These are public schools.

No. Intelligence. Allowed.


26 posted on 06/04/2008 8:06:07 AM PDT by Fester Chugabrew (Proud participant in "Operation Chaos")
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To: Fester Chugabrew
No. Intelligence. Allowed.

"Dr. McLeroy believes that Earth’s appearance is a recent geologic event — thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion."

Starting with the board itself apparently.

27 posted on 06/04/2008 8:08:31 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: WVKayaker
You offer nothing to this conversation. You just make caustic, boorish complaints about, and to, people of faith.

You mean like this little gem from your keyboard?

Creationism is a matter of faith and evolution is scientific theory a matter of MUCH MORE faith.

Kinda funny, sad and pathetic all at the same time. A thread about how evolutionists won't accept discussion of it's merits yet the only discussion you're willing to have is by slinging insults at people willing to discuss it.
28 posted on 06/04/2008 8:09:41 AM PDT by cripplecreek (I miss the days when only the politicians were unethical.)
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To: cripplecreek

But what is Truth? Did we and “all this” come on the scene by chance, or did we and “all this” truly come about because a Creator intended it?

What is Truth? What is true both in matters of history and faith?


29 posted on 06/04/2008 8:09:55 AM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: Theo

Truth is a value in a Truth Table.


30 posted on 06/04/2008 8:12:38 AM PDT by RightWhale (We see the polygons)
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To: drjimmy

So you’re saying that Christians should not be on the state education board? You’re saying that if you believe the Bible, then you’re disqualified from any position of authority?


31 posted on 06/04/2008 8:15:02 AM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: Theo

I’m a cross believer. I see evolution as a theory of how and believe God to be the reason why. In the end, I don’t want either banned from school, just taught in their own respective arenas.


32 posted on 06/04/2008 8:15:35 AM PDT by cripplecreek (I miss the days when only the politicians were unethical.)
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To: cripplecreek

If something is historically true, then it’s scientifically true as well. If God created “all this” as described in the Scriptures that Jesus believed, then it’s also scientifically true that God created “all this” as described in Scripture (the Scriptures that Jesus Himself believed).

You choose: The account affirmed by atheists or the account affirmed by Jesus.

Again, if it’s true historically, it’s true scientifically. “Faith,” when it comes to how “all this” came about, is irrelevant.


33 posted on 06/04/2008 8:19:01 AM PDT by Theo (Global warming "scientists." Pro-evolution "scientists." They're both wrong.)
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To: King of Florida
Strengths and weaknesses --what a crock!

If you want scientific debate over the theory of evolution try the scientific literature. Don't bother with religion and scripture. They have no role in science.

This "strengths and weaknesses" nonsense is just another way to try to teach a narrow, fundamentalist religion in the place of science. From that standpoint, it's a lie from start to finish.

34 posted on 06/04/2008 8:21:14 AM PDT by Coyoteman (Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.)
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To: Arkansas Toothpick
Michael Behe is a secular, agnostic Jew, for example.

You must be thinking of someone else. Behe is Roman Catholic.

35 posted on 06/04/2008 8:21:25 AM PDT by megatherium
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To: cripplecreek
Kinda funny, sad and pathetic all at the same time. A thread about how evolutionists won't accept discussion of it's merits yet the only discussion you're willing to have is by slinging insults at people willing to discuss it.

Most of the "conversations" I have had with evolutionists have been very one-sided... since they start with a basic assumption. They seem to all believe that we people of faith are just deluded by some primitive tribal myth. That conclusion/assumption colors the conversation.

That little "gem" was aimed a specific poster, who comes onto quite a few threads, with disruption as the intent. I did not direct that comment at you. I referred to the faith required to accept the evolutionary theory.

You have no "Theory on the Origins of the Species", unless you specify an origin! Observations of change have not verified anything. Where did it begin? The fossil record is all about "interpretation". Everything in "science" requires an assumption, not a fact! That, fellow FReeper, is faith!

I assume I can fly a Boeing 777. I have piloted a Cessna 150, so I have the theory right!

36 posted on 06/04/2008 8:22:02 AM PDT by WVKayaker ( "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome..." I. Asimov)
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To: Theo
So you’re saying that Christians should not be on the state education board? You’re saying that if you believe the Bible, then you’re disqualified from any position of authority?

So you're saying students should be taught in public schools that the Earth is only a few thousands of years old? You're saying students should be taught in public schools that a baby born in a manger created the universe?
37 posted on 06/04/2008 8:25:14 AM PDT by drjimmy
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To: King of Florida
But critics say it is a new strategy taking shape across the nation to undermine the teaching of evolution, a way for students to hear religious objections under the heading of scientific discourse.

No... it is a way of teaching evolution objectively.

38 posted on 06/04/2008 8:31:56 AM PDT by mtg
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To: mtg

Next up: strengths and weaknesses of arithmetic.


39 posted on 06/04/2008 8:35:29 AM PDT by js1138
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To: discipler

“Scientifically speaking, life on earth was seeded by aliens. We are their reserve food source in the future. Quite scary, but true.”

Haaaa??????
Now thats a worldview.(sarcasm)
This kind of science fiction gives conservatives a hayseed reputation.


40 posted on 06/04/2008 8:36:31 AM PDT by dixjea
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